Infertility in both men and woman can be caused by a number of issues ranging from diseases such as cancer to long term use of certain drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen. Finding the cause can prove useful in some cases as this can then be treated and dealt with, but for 25% of the population a cause cannot be identified.
There are two types of infertility you can experience, primary and secondary. Secondary infertility is when you have already conceived once but then struggle to do so again. This can be difficult to understand, so we have compiled a list of some of the reasons why infertility may occur at any time in your life.
Weight
If you or your partner is overweight you may struggle more to conceive, this is due to a number of factors. In women, being above normal weight range can have a negative impact on your ovulation due to the overproduction of the male hormones preventing eggs being released. Whereas in men this can result in a lower sperm count or slower sperm.
On the other hand, being underweight can also impact your chances of conceiving. As a woman if your body isn’t receiving the right nutrition, your eggs will suffer. This can also result in the womb lining not building up enough which will impact fertility greatly.
STI’s
You may not know that there are several STI’s that can actually cause infertility if not treated correctly. Chlamydia in particular is known for this, it can damage the Fallopian tube in woman and cause swelling and sensitivity of the scrotum in men.
If you think you may have an STI or are not sure, be sure to get checked out as soon as possible so that your fertility doesn’t suffer. As many as 10-15% of women with Chlamydia will experience fertility issues as it often goes undetected and without any symptoms.
Smoking
Smoking in general causes many unwanted health issues, but it can also adversely affect your fertility. It has been reported that the more you are exposed to smoke, the harder it will be to conceive – so even if you are a non-smoker but around those who do smoke often, you could suffer as a result.
The effects of smoking on your body include ovulation problems, genetic issues, damage to your reproductive organs and increased risk of miscarriage. If you or your partner are a smoker and planning on getting pregnant soon, quitting could great increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
Stress
Modern day life can be stressful at the best of times, but if you are trying and struggling to conceive as well you may find yourself under increased pressure. However, high stress levels have actually been found to have a negative impact on fertility. Not only does it contribute to loss of libido, it can also affect ovulation in women and limit sperm production in men.
If you or your partner are stressed due to work commitments or other issues, the best way to increase your chances of conceiving are to try to reduce this as much as possible. Take time to relax at the end of the day and support each other.
Environmental factors
Finally, there are certain factors in the air or in your surroundings that may contribute to infertility. Certain pesticides, metals and solvents have been found to have an impact on fertility in both men and women. Pesticides can contribute to male erectile dysfunction and they can also damage cells, including the reproductive cells.
If you work in an environment where you are exposed to high levels of these chemicals you may find that you struggle more to get pregnant.
If you are having problems conceiving and wish to find out more about our services and how we can help you, please do get in contact with one of our team via our Contact page or by giving us a call on 01372 738938.